In Doaba,SAD relies on old guards,allots 14 tickets

Jalandhar: Relying on old horses, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced 14 candidates including its trusted soldiers and some new faces from Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Kapurthala districts.

SAD party chief Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced a list of 69 candidates including 14 from Doaba. Six candidates were announced from Jalandhar, two from Kapurthala, three each from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar and Hoshiarpur districts. The only seat left was – Sham Chaurasi and Bholath.

Among the major surprise package was the candidature of Kapurthala District Planning Committee chairman and ex-Adampur MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar from Jalandhar Cantonment seat. Makkar had earlier lost election from Kapurthala assembly constituency in 2012 from Congress candidate Gurjit Singh Rana.

Till a couple of months ago, the SAD leadership had given the go ahead to Doaba Zone Youth Akali Dal (YAD) president Sarabjot Singh Sabi.

Talking to Daily Post, Sarabjit Singh Makkar said, “It is for the first time that SAD has fielded a candidate from Jalandhar Cantonment assembly segment, which was not the case with ex-SAD leaders Pargat Singh and Jagbir Brar.”

On the other hand, SAD fielded ex- BSP candidate Baldev Singh Khaira from Phillaur (reserve) assembly seat. “SAD has entrusted me with a big responsibility and I am going to win this seat with a thumping majority,” he said.

Similarly, new entrant in the Akali camp, ex- congress leader Seth Pal Mal also managed to get a ticket from Kartarpur (reserve) seat. Mal joined SAD a fortnight ago. “I took a timely decision and joined SAD, where I have been fielded from a crucial seat. Given the way, I was ignored by Capt Amarinder Singh in Congress,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that the SAD again trusted its old guard and announced the name of sitting MLA from Nakodar- Gurpartap Singh Wadala. Among other old horses was the name of Transport Minister Ajit Singh Kohar was again announced from Shahkot assembly seat, who remained at the forefront being a senior Akali leader.